The night hung heavy around Alex's house, quiet except for the hum of cicadas and the distant rush of passing cars. His room was dim, lit only by the soft glow of his bedside lamp. The shadows on the walls seemed to pulse with every flicker, stretching and shrinking as though alive.
Alex sat on the edge of his bed, his heart thumping faster than he wanted to admit. Liam was here—leaning against the window frame he'd just climbed through with the same careless grace that always made Alex's stomach tighten. His dark hair was ruffled from the climb, and his eyes gleamed in the half-light, catching something that wasn't quite human.
"You could've used the door, you know," Alex muttered, forcing casualness into his voice.
Liam smirked, his fangs glinting faintly as he closed the window behind him. "Where's the fun in that? Besides, I like watching your face when I show up where I shouldn't."
Alex rolled his eyes, but his pulse betrayed him. Liam could hear it—he always could.
